Gold hits over 3-week high in thin-volume trade
Reuters|
Dec 26, 2017, 08.45 AM IST
BENGALURU: Gold prices edged up on Tuesday, hitting a more than three-week high, in low-volume trade amid a weaker dollar.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was up 0.2 per cent at $1,277.98 an ounce at 0115 GMT on Tuesday, after hitting its highest since Dec. 1 at $1,278.14.
* The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, edged down 0.1 per cent to 93.283.
* US gold futures rose 0.3 per cent to $1,282.20 an ounce.
* The futures market was closed for the Christmas holiday on Monday.
* Palladium prices jumped to 17-year highs on Friday as strong demand from autocatalyst makers reinforced the prospect of market shortages.
* Spot palladium was steady at $1,038.10 an ounce on Tuesday. It touched its highest since February 2001 at $1,042.50 on Friday.
* Analysts expect that about 80 per cent of global palladium demand will come from autocatalysts for gasoline-powered cars, which many now prefer over diesel-fuelled vehicles.
* Japan's core consumer prices rose for the 11th straight month and household spending jumped in November, offering the central bank some hope a steady economic recovery will gradually drive up inflation to its 2 per cent target.
* The Shanghai Futures Exchange cut its margin requirements for gold and silver futures contracts from Jan. 2.
* Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.18 per cent to 837.50 tonnes on Friday from 836.02 tonnes on Thursday.
* Hedge funds and money managers increased their bearish position in COMEX silver contracts to a record in the week to Dec. 19, while they increased their net long stance in gold, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data showed on Friday.
* US growth prospects dimmed on Friday as data showed spending outpaced income in November and the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure -- the personal consumption expenditures price index that excludes food and energy -- rose by just 0.1 per cent in November.
* The passage of a sweeping US tax reform bill investors have been anxiously anticipating for months caused large redemptions in equities and bonds last week as a building consensus in the market suggested any benefits had already been priced in.
* Workers at Pan African Resource's , Barberton gold mine in South Africa have ended a wildcat strike that started on Sunday, an industry source said on Friday.
* Gold demand across major centres in Asia was subdued last week as a modest rebound in prices weighed on investor appetite.
FUNDAMENTALS
* Spot gold was up 0.2 per cent at $1,277.98 an ounce at 0115 GMT on Tuesday, after hitting its highest since Dec. 1 at $1,278.14.
* The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major rivals, edged down 0.1 per cent to 93.283.
* US gold futures rose 0.3 per cent to $1,282.20 an ounce.
* The futures market was closed for the Christmas holiday on Monday.
* Palladium prices jumped to 17-year highs on Friday as strong demand from autocatalyst makers reinforced the prospect of market shortages.
* Spot palladium was steady at $1,038.10 an ounce on Tuesday. It touched its highest since February 2001 at $1,042.50 on Friday.
* Analysts expect that about 80 per cent of global palladium demand will come from autocatalysts for gasoline-powered cars, which many now prefer over diesel-fuelled vehicles.
* Japan's core consumer prices rose for the 11th straight month and household spending jumped in November, offering the central bank some hope a steady economic recovery will gradually drive up inflation to its 2 per cent target.
* The Shanghai Futures Exchange cut its margin requirements for gold and silver futures contracts from Jan. 2.
* Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust , the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, rose 0.18 per cent to 837.50 tonnes on Friday from 836.02 tonnes on Thursday.
* Hedge funds and money managers increased their bearish position in COMEX silver contracts to a record in the week to Dec. 19, while they increased their net long stance in gold, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data showed on Friday.
* US growth prospects dimmed on Friday as data showed spending outpaced income in November and the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure -- the personal consumption expenditures price index that excludes food and energy -- rose by just 0.1 per cent in November.
* The passage of a sweeping US tax reform bill investors have been anxiously anticipating for months caused large redemptions in equities and bonds last week as a building consensus in the market suggested any benefits had already been priced in.
* Workers at Pan African Resource's , Barberton gold mine in South Africa have ended a wildcat strike that started on Sunday, an industry source said on Friday.
* Gold demand across major centres in Asia was subdued last week as a modest rebound in prices weighed on investor appetite.
